Food allergies have become more common across the globe over the last several decades. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates 3.9 percent of children and 1.1 percent of adults had food allergies in 1997-98. Those percentages more than doubled to 8 percent of children and more than 2 percent of adults by 2019-2020.
Awareness of food allergies has grown in recent decades, but some may just now be popping on individuals’ radars. Alpha-gal syndrome is one such allergy that’s only recently gaining wider attention among the general public.
What is Alpha-gal syndrome?
Food allergies and insect bites might seem like strange bedfellows, but that unique connection is precisely how Alpha-gal syndrome begins. According to the Mayo Clinic, Alpha-gal syndrome is a food allergy that usually traces its origins to the bite of a Lone Star tick. That bite transfers a sugar molecule known as alpha-gal into the body, triggering an immune system response.
What are people with Alpha-gal syndrome allergic to?
People know ticks are not food for human beings, so it can seem curious that a tick bite contributes to a food allergy. But the link lies within the sugar molecule from which the syndrome gets its name. According to Alphagalinformation.org, a website devoted to raising awareness about the condition, the sugar molecule alpha-gal is found in all mammals except for humans and some primates. So, products made from mammals, including beef, pork and lamb, are among the foods someone with Alpha-gal syndrome may be allergic to. Dairy, gelatin and additional products derived from mammals also may trigger an allergic response in people with Alpha-gal syndrome.
How long before an Alpha-gal allergic reaction begins?
The Mayo Clinic notes that most reactions to food allergens begin within minutes of consuming or being exposed to the food that triggers the reaction. For example, someone with a peanut allergy may begin to feel side effects almost immediately. Alpha-gal allergic reactions take longer to develop. The Mayo Clinic indicates such reactions usually appear three to six hours after exposure.
What happens during an Alpha-gal allergic reaction?
The symptoms that appear during an Alpha-gal allergic reaction are similar to those associated with other food allergies.
Such symptoms include:
The development of hives, itching or itchy, scaly skin.
Swelling that affects the lips, face, tongue, and throat. The Mayo Clinic notes swelling related to Alpha-gal syndrome also may affect other body parts.
Wheezing or shortness of breath.
Stomach pain, upset stomach, diarrhea, or vomiting.
Alpha-gal syndrome may not be as widely recognized as other food allergies, but it poses a significant threat nonetheless. More information about the condition can be found at alphagalinformation.org.
